Conservative candidate Irvine Carvery wants further growth for Halifax by bolstering small businesses and lowering taxes.

“There are opportunities for growth in Halifax, in our fisheries and agriculture,” he said in a phone interview. “I see nothing but good things for Halifax.”

Carvery thinks his party is the best one to manage the country’s economy and boost job prospects. If elected, he plans on making his riding’s voice heard in Ottawa.

Carvery has been a community activist and public figure for years, having helped establish the Africville Museum. He has also served on the Africville Genealogy Society.

His devotion to civil rights advancement is what attracted him to the Conservative party, noting that cultural landmarks in Nova Scotia, such as the Black Cultural Centre, were established under Progressive Conservative provincial governments.

“I found that all the advances we’ve made as a people have come under a Progressive Conservative government,” he said.

He ran for the Progressive Conservative party in the 2013 provincial election in the Halifax Armdale riding, and is now running in the Halifax riding for the Conservatives.

Carvery spends his days answering emails and canvassing neighbourhoods, focusing on senior citizens in the morning and other people in the evening.

“This is a huge riding,” he said. “I’m not going to get to every door.”

Carvery tells potential voters that the Conservative government hasn’t forgotten Halifax, reminding them that new buildings, such as the Halifax Central Library and the Halifax Convention Centre, were partly funded with federal government money.

He also says that the new Trans-Pacific Partnership, which will lower trade tariffs, will greatly benefit Halifax, as a large influx of imported goods will likely travel through the city’s ports.

Carvery hopes this resurgence of Halifax ports will strengthen the local economy, which he plans to support by lending aid to small businesses.

“The more we support small businesses, the more they’ll hire people, which will hopefully keep Nova Scotians here,” he said.

Unlike the NDP or Liberals, the Conservatives aren’t offering tuition relief, but instead propose better job opportunities for students. Carvery agrees with this idea, but also thinks that if the federal government pays for some overhead university costs, tuition may be reduced. He plans to take this idea to Ottawa.

“I’ve been very successful working with different levels of government,” he said.

Carvery sees his party as the smartest economic choice for the country, as the Liberals want to run a deficit and the NDP may have to raise taxes, he says.

“Our government is lowering taxes,” he said.

No matter if Haligonians agree with his ideas, Carvery hopes everyone votes on Oct. 19.

“It’s frustrating when I hear that people aren’t voting,” he said. “Your vote counts.”